Game apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 2. 1907. J. STERN.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION runnqm. 22, 1907.

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WITNESSES INVENTOI? W 772M707? 0 I I I ATTORNEYS THE NDRRIS PETERS co., wAsnmc'rou, D. Q

JULIUS STERN, on NEW YoRk, N. Y.

OFFICE.

i r l GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

liatented July 2, 1907.

Application filed January 22,1907. Serial No. 353,412.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS STERN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has for its object to provide a game designed to be played on a table by means of a ball adapted to travel between rows of pins, and come in contact with one or more of a multiple series of counters, thereby causing the counters to register with each operation of the ball. Such objects I accomplish by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings like characters of reference indicate likeparts throughout the views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan of a table embodying my invention showing the super-structure thereof in horizontal section taken on the line l1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of two adjacent counters and connecting mechanism, with one of the counters elevated as when registered; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, a table having an inclined bed plate 1 is provided on one side with a longi tudinal tubular channel or run-way 2, having a re-entrant upper end 3 opening into the central portion of the upper end of the table, and provided with a trap door 4 which is mounted upon a hinge 5 and arranged in line with a center pin 6 preferably placed slightly in advance of a plurality of pins 7, which extend in transverse series in staggered relation with each other,thereby forming passage-ways between said pins leading to the body portion of the table, which is provided with counters 8 extending in series across the board also in staggered relation with each other, as indicated in Fig. 1. The counters 8 are constructed of numbered disks 9 having weighted disks 10 which are preferably inclined slightly relatively to, the plane of the numbered disks 9, so as to balance the counter and hold it normally in a vertical position. The counters are provided with sleeves 11 adapted to be pivotally mounted upon standards of any suitable construction, preferably consisting of wickets 12 having a centrally curved transverse bar 13 which normally bears against the weighted disk 10. A transverse rod 14 is provided with loops 15 corresponding with the numbers of the counters, and adapted to bear against the looped central portion of the wickets 12 when the counters are depressed, as shown .by full lines in Fig. 3, and to bear against the back of the counters when registering, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. One of the ends of the transverse rods 14 is provided with cranks 16, and the cranks of the several rodsare connected together by means of a rod 17, the forward end of which projects beyond the front of the table, as shown in Fig. 1, with its rear end connected with a spring 18 whereby the rods 14 may be rocked in unison so as to turn down the counters when desired. The rod 17 is inclosed within a channel 19 which, together with the channel of the run-way 2 is preferably inclosed so as to make a symmetrical rail extending around the table. An inclined channel 20 extends transversely of the lower portion of the board, and communicates by means of an opening 21, as shown in Fig. 5, with the run-Way 2. The end of the channel 20 connected with the run-way 2 is preferably constructed with the bottom portion thereof slightly above the bottom portion of the run-way 2, so as to prevent the ball from rolling out of the run-way and into the channel 20. A lever 24 is pivotally mounted on the side of the table and connected with an actuating spring 22 adapted to shoot a ball 23 along the run-way 2.

In playing the game, the ball 23 is placed in the lower end of the runway 2, and the spring 22 compressed by means of the lever 21. When pressure is released from the lever the ball 23 is shot along the run-way 2 and passes through the re-entrant portion 3 thereof, and onto the surface of the table. If the trap door 4 is used it is made to swing freely on its hinge so that the force of the ball may readily open the door, which immediately closes by means of a spring attachment of any suitable construction secured thereto, thereby preventing the ball after it strikes the center pin 6 or 7 from rebounding and going back again into the end of the run-way. The ball after passing through the run-way finds its way through one of the several passages between the pins 7, and then passes between the counters 8 or comes in contact therewith. When the ball comes in contact with one of the counters, as shown in Fig. 3, it tilts the counter slightly, and causes the counter-balancing weight 10 to drop, thereby elevating the counting disk, as indicated in Fig. 3. After the ball has come in contact with and raised one of the counters, it passes downward along the board, raising each of the counters with which it comes in contact. The ball eventually rolls into the channel 20, which being inclined transversely of the board enables the ball to roll back to the position from which it started.

The counters are returned to their original position after each play by means of the reciprocating rod 17, which is connected to the cranks 16 of the transverse rod 14, and to the spring 18. This rod when operated rocks the rods 14 and causes the loops 15 thereon to bear against and tilt the counter disks, bringing them back into their original position ready for the next play. The counter disks are marked with appropriate numbers, and the aggregate numbers of the disks registered with each operation of the ball indicates the score for each play. The game may be played by one or more persons, and any suitable rules adapted therefor.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of transverse rows of wickets arranged in staggered relation to each other, and provided on their upper ends with vertically extending stops, pivoted counters provided witn laterally extending sleeves journaled on said wickets, and with registering disks, and weights arranged counter to said disks, rods extending transversely of said wickets and provided with off-set portions in operative relation with the counters of each row, and a reciprocating rod extending longitudinally of said apparatus and connected with and adapted to rock said transverse rods and arrange said counters in their normal position.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of transverse rows of wickets arranged in staggered relation to each other, and provided on their upper ends with vertically extending stops, pivoted counters provided with sleeves journaled on said wickets and with registering disks and with inclined counter balancing weights arranged opposite said disks, rods extending transversely of said wickets and provided with off-set portions in operative relation with the counters of each row, and a recip rocating rod extending longitudinally of said apparatus connected with and adapted to rock said transverse rods and arrange the counters in their normal position.

3. A game apparatus comprising an inclined table having a run-way extending lengthwise thereof and provided with a re-entrant end arranged centrally oi the upper portion of said table, a plurality of pins spaced apart and an ranged at the upper end of said table, a central pin arranged opposite to said re-entrant end of the rulrway, a plurality of transverse rows of wickets arranged in staggered relation to each other, and a series 011 counters pivoted intermediate their ends on the upper ends 01' said wickets and centrally thereof.

4. A game apparatus comprising an inclined table, :1 plurality of transverse rows of wickets arranged in staggered relation to each other and provided on their upper ends with "ertically extending; stops, counters provided with registering disks and counter-ha]ancing weights arranged opposite thereto, and pivoted intermediate said weights and disks on the upper portion of said wickets, and centrally thereof, rods extending transversely of said wickets and provided with off-set portions in operative rc lation to the counters of each row, and a rod reciprocating longitudinally of said apparatus connected with and adapted to rock said transverse rods and arrange the counters in their normal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS STERN.

Witnesses Gnonor: BECKER, FRANK Trsonnnm. 

